Bladeforums BEST BOWIE - 2009 Edition - THE FINALISTS

[SharpByCoop]

Sidebar discussion while we have an audience....

Yeah, portrait better for magazines. Landscape better for internet.

That's been an often carried rule, but it's not infallible. Without question any full page magazine display will need to be in Portrait. That said, how many shots actually make it this far on their own? (Ahem: Terry Vandeventer, pg 15 Jan KI... )

Still most magazines use a columnar format even if it's not a full page and portrait mode slips in neatly. That said, I just browsed a copy of Blade and the images (P or L) are split about 50/50. If the knife is fitting they will make it work.

Nowadays, widescreen monitors and web browsers with upper and lower menus shrink the viewing area to a thin wide rectangle. If your primary target includes websites and forums, landscape mode is not just OK, it's better.

I do NOT limit all my photographs to portrait, although there is an inescapable drama to the format. TBT I prefer the knife to make the drama.

More importantly is that the widest audience is satisfied. I have reduced the size of my own portrait postings this Fall to 640 wide x 800 from 750 wide x 950. They were simply too big. (Buddy sizes even smaller. Note Fuegen)

I am pleased that (2) knives made it into the finals with hobbiest photography. It is testimony to their appeal. :thumbup:

Thanks for this.

Coop

 

[RogerP]

Really thoughtful comments, guys - I've enjoyed reading them and have learned from them.

OT - is there a screen resolution issue maybe? I think this is something you can adjust. I'm working from a large-ish laptop - don't remember what the screen size is, but it's not anywhere NEAR 20" - and the knives fit fine. The portrait knives just fit, but they do fit and look clear and sharp to boot.

What I know about computers wouldn't fill a shot glass, but since mine is neither the cutting edge latest tech nor the biggest and baddest, I figure if it works for me it's got to be able to work for most.

Roger

 

[Kevin Jones]

^Very helpful information Coop.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Roger, sorry for the OT. Just seemed like a good time to mention photo size. I have my monitor set to full screen and the only portrait knife that fits is the Fuegen cowboy bowie, guess it's the shortest Probably just my computer

 

[RogerP]

^^^ No Don, I'm glad you mentioned it. Because I can see the pics fine, it wouldn't have occurred to me that others couldn't had you not said so. I'll ask one of the tech guys at the office tomorrow if he has any ideas on it.

Roger

 

[Kohai999]

Roger, sorry for the OT. Just seemed like a good time to mention photo size. I have my monitor set to full screen and the only portrait knife that fits is the Fuegen cowboy bowie, guess it's the shortest Probably just my computer

I always set my pics to show on a 15" monitor, and have had very few complaints.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[GRIM 62]

All of the bowies were stunning,to say the least.It's staggering to comprehend the skill it would take to create any of those awesome blades!!!But,unfortunately I could only choose one.I voted for the Bruce Bump Bowie,the pattern of the steel blew me away!!

 

[sheathmaker]

Given the seven finalists, of a field where all the knives were winners and more, I voted for Bruce Bump's bowie. Why?....because I liked it the most!

Paul

 

[severedthumbs]

the Bruce Da Bump is perfection. it gots my votes

 

[12345678910]

I go with BB on this one.

Taken as a whole, the lines are perfect, smooth flowing symmetry and proportion.

Looking at the details, that feather steel is perfect and the engraving, although not "sole authorship" is tasteful and complementary.
I would like to see his logo in releif engraving rather than etched for this.



Second for me would have been between Don Hanson, Russ Andrews

-Don's seems more fighter and less classic Bowie.

-Russ- very nice overall with great lines, but something about the swedge bugs me...too long? too wide? I don't know.

-Kyle's ? I don't know...the ring just seems out of place to me, more of an add-on than an integral part of it.
Now that i go back, and look at the detail photos I see it is detachable...how does that work?
The ultra fine pattern is intricate and displays great craftsmanship, but I think a larger knife should have a bolder pattern to retain scale.



The others? well, the ornamentation is too much for me, when some things are just too overwrought I lose interest...

 

[Kevin Jones]

-Kyle's ? I don't know...the ring just seems out of place to me, more of an add-on than an integral part of it.
Now that i go back, and look at the detail photos I see it is detachable...how does that work? The ultra fine pattern is intricate and displays great craftsmanship, but I think a larger knife should have a bolder pattern to retain scale.

The finial nut comes off using the tool, slide off the handle (rear pommel is part of the handle), slide off the spacers and exchange the guard. The entire process takes less than 2 minutes. Each component is marked as to placement and sequence.

I prefer the ring guard myself and you do find examples of antique bowies with varying designs of such. We knew some would not care for it, thus the classic clamshell guard converting the knife into a more traditional piece.

 

[black mamba]

Originally Posted by Durwood

It's always been between two for me. These are the two that "spoke" the most to me: The Bruce Bump OKCA and the Kyle Royer Ring Guard Bowie.

Ditto. :thumbup: I'll just add that ALL are stunning, awesome, prodigious, heroic, etc. Seven winners, only one vote.

 

[custombuff]

I wanted to vote, but just couldn't. I love all of them. Larry Fuegen has been someone's work I've really admired and seeing a few of his on this forum this year was a real treat. All I can say is that the picks for this year are EXACTLY what I would have chosen.

Nick

 

[xaman]

The Bruce Bump blade is just to well done with very classic lines and great flow. Nice engraving too

 

[eisman]

This was a hard choice for me. Those are some great knives, at least three of which I'd love to own. Guess I'll just have to get in line...

 

[Joss]

Bruce's bowie is remarkable with it's dead-on overall proportions, beautiful amber stag and just the right amount/style of engraving from Tom Ferry.

+ the steel.

I agree with that & voted for Bruce's piece too. It's an exceptional bowie.

 

[RogerP]

Congratulations to Bruce Bump, maker of the 2009 Bladeforums Best Bowie:

The result hasn't been in doubt for some time, but since the poll is now closed, it's time for Bruce to take a bow. Even if you didn't tabulate the votes from the nimination round, you may have noticed that this piece was the leader in votes. Clearly, this bowie truck a universal chord with thread participants - and the many comments posted in the finalist voting explain why.

Well done Bruce!

Congrats also go out to all the finalists - and indeed, all the knives represented in both threads. And my sincere thanks to Lorien and to all of you who participated in making this a whole lot of fun.

And a final note - I went back to the previous Best Bowie threads of 2007, 2008 to look over the past finalists and noticed that two makers deserve a special nod for having a knife in the finals now three years in a row. Given the quality of nominees each year, that is really quite an accomplishment. So a round of applaus for Russ Andrews and Don Hanson - keep up the great work guys. :thumbup:

Roger

 

[Don Hanson III]

Thanks, Roger!

And a big Cangrats to Bruce Bump! :thumbup: Good lookin knife!!!

 

[John M Cohea]

Congrats Bruce, it is well deserved!

 

[Kevin Jones]

A big congratulations to all seven makers who made the finals and to all nominees.

And thanks Roger and Lorien for your efforts.
This thread is very enjoyable and provides a nice recap of the year.